Feb. 7, 2012
2011-12 Week 8 
A Look Back
Johns Hopkins stayed alive in the hunt for a Centennial Conference playoff bid with wins at Gettysburg and Swarthmore last week. Hopkins is now in a two-way with Muhlenberg for fourth in the conference standings.
The Hopkins’ defense shut down Gettysburg in the first half Wednesday night, holding the Bullets to zero points and forcing eight turnovers in the final 14 minutes of the half as the Blue Jays took a 26-8 lead at the break. The second half was much more even as Hopkins went on to win 57-45 behind 15 points from senior Tim McCarty and 14 points from freshman George Bugarinovic. The win snapped the Blue Jays’ five-game losing streak and as they swept the season series with the Bullets for the first time since the 2003-04 season. It was also Hopkins’ first win at Bream Gym since January 5, 2005.
On Saturday, Hopkins scored 22 unanswered points in just over five minutes midway through the second half to blow open a two-point game. The Blue Jays would lead by as much as 24 points en route to a 73-56 win. Bugarinovic led JHU with 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, while junior Adam Spengler (12 points) and sophomore Aleksandar Nikolic (11 points) also finished in double digits. Hopkins shot 48.0 percent from the field for the game, including 59.1 percent in the second half.
It’s All Academic
Johns Hopkins placed two players on the Capital One Academic All-District last week. Senior Tim McCarty and junior Alex Pandrangi were both named to the first team and will now move onto the Academic All-America ballot. Hopkins has produced seven Academic All-District selections since 2007 and 10 since 1990.
Balanced Attack
Hopkins has a balanced scoring attack this season. Through 21 games this season, the Blue Jays have had nine different leading scorers. In fact, Hopkins does not have a single player averaging in double-digit scoring for the season. The Blue Jays are the only team in the 10-team Centennial Conference without a scorer in double figures. Freshman George Bugarinovic leads Hopkins with 9.7 points per game, followed closely by junior Adam Spengler who is averaging 9.3 points per contest.
40 Percent
Forty percent seems to be the benchmark for the Blue Jays this season. In their 12 wins so far this season, the Jays are holding their opponents to 37.3 percent shooting from the field. In its nine losses, Hopkins opponents are shooting 45.0 percent from the field. On the flip side, Hopkins is shooting 45.7 percent from the field in its 12 wins and 38.2 percent in its losses. The Blue Jay rank fourth in the conference in field goal percentage defense (.405).
The Week Ahead
Hopkins kicks off a three-game homestand on Wednesday when McDaniel visits Goldfarb Gym. JHU will then host Ursinus on Saturday before closing out the homestand against Franklin & Marshall on Wednesday, February 15.
Against the Green Terror
Hopkins and McDaniel meet for the 152nd time in a series that began in 1931. The Blue Jays hold a slim 77-73-1 lead in the all-time series, though the Green Terror have won three of the last four meetings, including a 71-66 decision in Westminster just two weeks ago. Hopkins is 27-13 against McDaniel at Goldfarb Gym and 32-15 against the Terror under head coach Bill Nelson.
Against the Bears
The Blue Jays and the Bears meet for the second time this season on Saturday in a series that is tied at 42-42. Ursinus has won six straight in the series, which began in 1958, and has won eight of the last nine meetings. Hopkins is 25-10 at Goldfarb against Ursinus, but the Bears have won two straight and three of the last four here.
Thank You Seniors
Hopkins will honor its two seniors - Danny Gergen and Tim McCarty - on Saturday prior to the Ursinus game.
411 and Counting
Head coach Bill Nelson won his 400th game on the Blue Jay sideline on November 15 at Goucher. The winningest coach in school history, his record at Hopkins now stands at 411-262 (.610). He has more than five times as many wins as the next coach on the all-time wins list at JHU. In its 86th season of basketball, Hopkins has accumulated 841 wins - Nelson has accounted for nearly half of those (48.8 percent). Now in his 32nd year of coaching, his all-time record is 516-315 (.621).
Getting Defensive
Through 21 games this season, Hopkins’ defense has been the name of the game. The Blue Jays lead the Centennial Conference in three-point field goal percentage defense (.269), ranks fourth in field goal percentage defense (.405) and scoring defense (60.7 ppg). In addition, Hopkins is tied for second in the nation with Albertus Magnus in three-point field goal percentage defense.
Block Party
Hopkins ranks third in the Centennial Conference in blocked shots, averaging 4.00 swats per game. The Blue Jays have had atleast five blocks in seven of their 19 games so far this season. Hopkins had a season-high eight blocks against Salisbury (Nov. 19) and Muhlenberg (Jan. 10). In fact, in two games versus the Mules this season, the Jays have a total of 15 blocks.
Block Party - Part II
Freshman George Bugarinovic leads the Blue Jays with 22 blocks this season, and ranks seventh in the Centennial Conference. His 22 swats this season rank him fifth in school history for blocks by a freshman. Sophomore Aleksandar Nikolic is second on the team and 15th in the conference with 19 blocks. Last season, Nikolic blocked 27 shots, tied for second most in school history by a freshman.
Around the Centennial
In the Centennial Conference, sophomore guard Daniel Corbett ranks in the top 10 in assists (9th / 2.52), free throw percentage (9th / .759) and steals (6th / 1.62). Freshman George Bugarinovic ranks second in free throw percentage (.815), seventh in blocks (1.05) and field goal percentage (.500) and ninth in rebounding (5.4). Freshman guard Jimmy Hammer is seventh in three-point field goals made (1.67); junior Mike Rhoads is second in three-point field goal percentage (.477) and junior Adam Spengler ranks sixth in free throw percentage (.794).
